Circuit-controller.



H. MGCREADY.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 29. 19114 1,071,769, Patented sept.2,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

FIG. 5

WHA/55455; g5u UWE/WOR. @@fy 2f wf (2' u 217m NEY.

H. MGGREADY.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED MAR. 29, 1911.

1,071,769, Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIG. 2

'INI/ENTOR.

HAROLD MCCREADY, OF

WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA7 A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2,1913.

Application filed March 29, 1911. Serial No. 617,749.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD MCCREADY, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVilkinsbui-g, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Im}jnovements in Circuit-Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to circuit controllers, and particularly to the contacts and means for operating the contacts comprised 1n circuit controllers.

I will describe a circuit controller embodying two forms of my invention, and then point out the novel features thereof 1n claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing in elevation a circuit controller embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the circuit controller shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view showing in side elevation the lower portion of the circuit controller shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view showing a portion of the circuit controller shown in the preceding views, but with the parts in different relative positions. Fig. 5 is a view showing on a larger Scalea portion of the circuit controller shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. i

, Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In circuit controllers or relays employed for certain purposes, for example, in those employed for the control of railway signals, it is frequently desirable to provide contacts having low electrical resistance between the contacting members when in engagement. This may be readily effected by the use of contacts the members of which are of substantially metallic material, such for example as a platinum or a silver member, and a silver member, adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with each other. But a contact of such nature is subject to the danger of the two members becoming fused together under abnormal conditions, such as by lightning discharges. One feature of my invention is the operation of one or more contacts of low resistance (such as those comprising substantially metallic members only) and one or more non-fusible contacts (such as those of which one member is carbon or a similar material) by one contact operating member, the arrangement being such that if the members of the low resistance contact should become fused together while in engagement, the contact operating member is still free to move the members of the high resistance contact out of engagement, independently of the low resistance contact. In practice, the contact operating member is usually an armature controlled by a motor of a suitable nature, such as by an electro-magnet, although I do not wish to limit myself to contacts operated by any particular means.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, 10 designates a supporting base, preferably of insulating material such as porcelain, in which is mounted an electro-magnet 11. This electro-magnet comprises as usual two energizing windings 13,13, and two pole pieces 15 and 16, and it controls a neu tral armature 12 and a polarized armature 14. As is Well understood, the neutral armature 12 is closed or attracted to the pole pieces 15 and 16 when the windings 13 are energized by current flowing in either direction, whereas the polarized armature 14 is rockedto engagement with one pole piece or the other dependingon the direction of flow. of'current in the windings 13.

A circuit controller suchas I have thus far ldescribed is well known, and requires no further explanation; As here shown, the neutral armature 12 operates two contacts 75 and 76, of. which contact 75.comprises Atwo metallic members 22 and 23, and contact 76 comprises a metallic member 19 and a carbon member 20. The polarized armature operates two contacts 77 and 78, of which contact 77 comprises two metallic members 35 and 37, and contact 78 comprises a metallic member 34 and a carbon member 36. The neutral armature 12 carries two studs 17, 17 preferably of a suitable insu lating material, to which studs is secured a contact finger 18. This contact finger carries at its outer end the metallic contact member 19 forming part of contact 76. The

carbon member 20 of this contact is a stationary block suitably supported in the base 10.

21 designates another contact finger pivoted to a support 24 which support is suitably mounted in the base 10. This finger 21 carries at its outer end the metallic member 22 forming part of the contact 75. The other metallic member 23 of this contact is a stationary block suitably supported in thc base 10. The contact finger 21 is operatively connected with the armature 12 by means of a stud 25. As shown more clearly iu Fig. 5, this stud comprises means-whereby it may be secured to the armature 12, here shown as being a threaded portion 79. It also has a reduced portion or neck 2G and a head 27. The head 27 is preferably substantially rectangular in shape, itsna-rrower dimension being substantially equal to the diameter of the neck 26. The contact finger-21 is provided with a slot 28 which fits loosely over the neck 26. The head 27 of the stud 25 may be passed through this slot, and the stud being then turnedthrough an angle of 90 ideg., the contact finger 21 is then f constrained to movement wit-hin the limits The proportions of the of the neck 2G. stud 25 are such that during the closing of the armature 12 against the pole pieces 15 and 16, the head 27 of the stud will engage the contact finger 21 to move the contact member 22 intoengagement with the block 23; and vif these two contacts should become fused together in this position, the armature 12 will, upon being released, -move to its lower position, carrying With it the contactfinger 18, thereby opening contact 76. In other words, 'the length of the neck 26 of the stud 25 is 'such thatlthe armature 12 may move freely through its entire stroke -even if the contactlmember 2,2 should be-V come fused to the contact block 23.

Referring now part-icularlyto Figs. 2

and 4, I will explain one form'of apparatus for operating the contacts 77 and. 78 by the respectively two pairs of'studs of suit-able insulating material 'rigidly secured to the armature 14. Secured to the studs 29 is a contact finger 31 carrying at its 'outer end the metallic member 34-oftlie contact 7S. The carbon member36 of this contact isa block suitably mounted inthe base 10.. The studs 30 carry a nger 32, to which' a second finger 33 is so secured that the`latter may be easily bent outwardly with respect to the finger 32. As here sho\rn,`the finger 33 is secured to the finger 32 by means of rivets 38. The finger 33 carries at its outer end one of the metallic members 35 of the contact 77. The other metallicmember 37 of this contact is a block suitably mounted in the base 10. The two contacts 77 and 78 here shown are so arranged that they will both be closed when the armature 14 is rocked in one direction, and that they will both be opened when the armature is rocked in the other direction. The movement of the finger 33 with respect to the finger 32 is such that if the two metallic members of cont-act 77 should become fused, the armature 14 would still be free to be rocked to its other extreme position, thereby opening Contact 7S. In such case, the fingers 32 and 33 would assume substantially the relative positions shown in Fig. 4.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of circuit controller having 'two forms of contacts embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimV is:

1. In a circuit controller, an electro-magnet, an armature controlled thereby, two contact fingers, one of which is rigidly secured to the armature and the other of lwhich is pivoted'to have movements relatively to the armature, a stud secured tothe armature and having a body port-ion and an enlarged head ortion, and .a hole in the pivoted contact 'nger Whichwill pass freely over the body portion ofthe stud but which will not pass over the head' portion.

2. A circuit controller comprising a movable Contact 4operating "member, a fusible y c ontactand anon-.fusible contact, each contact comprising a stationary member and a' movable' member,l the movable member of the nonfusible contact being connected 1 with .the'operatingmember to' be positively moved thereby during 'movement of the op E erating member in .both directions, and

means -interp'osed between the. operating member and the movable member of .thel polarized armature 14. 29 and 30 designate i fusible Contact for closing the latter 'when' the operating member; moves in such direc- :tion as to close the non-fusible contact and for permitting returnv movement of the fop,

3. A circuit controller comprising a movable operat-ing member, a non-fusible coneratmg member to open theri'oiifusible coni A, ,tactl independently of the movable member A of the fusible contact in case. the latter should become fused While closed.

tact connected with the operating member i to be positively moved thereby during lmovements of the latter in'both directions,

HAROLD MCCREADY.

Vitnesses:

A. L. VENCILL, I. J. HARTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o! Patents, Washington, I). C.

of the fusible contact in casev i 

